BD Transduction Laboratories™ Purified Mouse Anti-Human Na+, K+ ATPase β3

Na+,K+-ATPase is an integral plasma membrane protein that maintains the intracellular concentrations of Na+ and K+ ions. It is a P class pump that is composed of two α and two β transmembrane subunits. It is also thought to contain a γ subunit. The 120 kDa α subunit represents the catalytic site. Although the 50 kDa β subunit mediates proper folding of newly synthesized α subunits, it is not directly involved in ion transfer. There are four known α isoforms (α1, α2, α3, and α4) and three β isoforms (β1, β2, and β3). The Na+,K+-ATPase is ubiquitously expressed in the plasma membrane. However, the individual subunits have different tissue distributions: α1 is ubiquitous; α2 is in skeletal muscle, brain, and heart; α3 is in brain and heart; α4 is present in testis and skeletal muscle; β1 is in most tissues; and β2 is primarily in neural tissues. Different combinations of the α and β subunits can alter the kinetics of enzyme activity. The Na+,K+-ATPase transfers three Na+ ions out of, and two K+ ions into, the cell upon hydrolysis of one ATP molecule. Maintenance of intracellular Na+,K+ levels is necessary for volume regulation, action potentials, and secondary active transport.